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GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Guide to soil biology and how to protect it

Many farms are closer to being “regenerative” than they might think, says a leading soil scientist. Ian Bell of Northern Soil Regen told delegates at Carbon Calling in Cumbria last…

LIVESTOCK

How regen practices can help cut inputs for livestock farmers

Regenerative farming can present an opportunity for dairy and mixed farms to lower production costs and greenhouse gases by reducing reliance on synthetic fertiliser and supplementary feed. Stephanie Race, founder…

BEEF

How silvopasture can help with heat stress

When farm environment adviser Luke Dale-Harris set about creating the Devon Silvopasture Network, helping farmers find ways to manage heat stress in their livestock was central to his thinking. There…

DAIRY

Why better dairy performance means a lower carbon footprint

The topic of net zero is wide ranging, contentious and shrouded in dogma. It is unfortunate that the concept of decarbonisation has become, in many ways, so politically weaponised. The…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

A guide to the updated autumn manure spreading rules

Updated guidance on how the Environment Agency (EA) should apply the Farming Rules for Water has cleared the way for muckspreading this coming autumn and winter. This is provided there…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

8 expert tips for efficiently grazing herbal leys

Multispecies herbal mixes are becoming increasingly popular among livestock farmers as a means of driving production and environmental gains (see “The numbers”). The benefits of these leys range from improved…

Case studies

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GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

How grazing change can help soil health and resilience

Farming using regenerative principles is helping the Cowcher family reduce costs and build resilience on their organic beef and sheep farm. Intensive rotational grazing over several years had produced positive…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

How undersowing can help soils and bring grazing income

Undersowing maize with companion grass mixes as winter grazing for sheep is returning a profit for a Welsh livestock farm, while also protecting soils. Mathew Van Dijk undersowed 5ha (12…

ARABLE

3 arable farmers, 3 regenerative agriculture journeys

Preparing their businesses for the post-Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) world is the driving aim for three arable farmers at different stages of their regenerative agriculture journey, as they look to…

DAIRY

How a dairy project aims to increase farm soil carbon by 25%

“Weaponising soils” to boost carbon sequestration is part of Somerset dairy Yeo Valley’s long-term plans to fight climate change, while producing nutritious, healthy food. The organic dairy brand has set…

MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

Spelt and rye earn premium spot in Berks organic rotation

Wasing Farm in Berkshire took the bold step into organic farming and is now home to a niche rotation growing spelt, spring rye and oats for the premium milling market.…

LIVESTOCK

Why a dry upland farm is switching to herbal leys

Increasing spells of dry weather have prompted beef and sheep farmer Marc Jones to roll out a programme of reseeding with herbal leys across more than two-thirds of his farm.…

Insights

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FARM POLICY

New Welsh farm support scheme majors on tree planting

Farmers in Wales will need to have at least 10% of their land planted with trees if they want a baseline payment from the new Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS). Details…

ARABLE

Regen farming income blip as market volatility increases

High yields and rocketing commodity prices have created a financial "blip" for regenerative farming systems, with margins falling behind those of conventional farms in such an unusual year. Speaking at…

PIGS

11 ways pig farmers can aim for net zero

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the pig industry (for each unit of meat) are lower than the dairy, beef and sheep sectors. However, there are still ways producers can reduce…

DAIRY

Can palm-oil be replaced in feed to help cut dairy emissions?

Fat supplements are incorporated into dairy diets to provide energy and enable cows to maintain butterfat levels. Most of those used in the UK are formulated with palm acid oil.…

ENVIRONMENT

Q&A: How trading natural capital credits could work

With input costs rising exponentially and production margins squeezed, farmers are showing increasing interest in the opportunities that might arise from trading their natural capital. It is, therefore, little surprise…

SHEEP

17 ways sheep farmers can work towards net zero

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from sheep production vary greatly depending on farm type and system. Lower emissions are often associated with lowland systems – largely because more kilos of meat…

PIGS

Can insect protein replace soya beans in pig diets?

Soya bean is often cited as one of the key contributors of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from pig farms. With all livestock sectors now facing moral- and government-driven pressures to…

FEED AND NUTRITION

How to cut silage spoilage and on-farm plastic with HOB film

Opting for high-oxygen barrier (HOB) films instead of black plastic sheets has been shown to reduce silage clamp losses from 15% to 7%. This could go some way towards protecting…

Latest environment news

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AIR AND WATER

Water warnings as Met Office issues first ever 'Red' alert

With record temperatures of 40C or more forecast by the Met Office in the coming days, farmers are being urged to reduce their water use, where possible, to help conserve…

ENVIRONMENT

Dutch farmer protests against emissions cuts spread across EU

Dutch farmer protests over government policies and rising “agflation” destroying their businesses have spread to more European countries. The farmers are protesting about rising costs and government restrictions put on…

ARABLE

Gene editing could double wheat yields, say scientists

Scientists believe gene editing and speed breeding could be used to double global wheat yields, feed a growing global population and reduce pressure on land. Wheat is the world’s most…

FARM POLICY

Welsh farm unions question 10% tree cover ambitions

Welsh farm leaders have hit out at government plans to force all farms to have a minimum 10% tree cover – one of the headline requirements in the draft Sustainable…

AIR AND WATER

Dutch farmers organise mass protests in face of farm closures

Thousands of farmers in the Netherlands have taken part in protests against Dutch government plans to slash greenhouse gas emissions. The protestors blocked motorways with columns of slow-moving tractors as…

NEWS

Move towards veggie food may have slowed

Sales growth for plant-based alternatives to meat appears to have stalled in a number of countries across the world, analysts and farm leaders have suggested.   Ulster Farmers Union (UFU)…

ENVIRONMENT

Somerset farmer fined £12,000 for River Frome pollution

A farmer in Somerset has been fined £12,000 for slurry pollution in the River Frome, which led to the death of more than 120 fish. Michael Aylesbury, a director of…

ENVIRONMENT

Calls for retraction of 2019 Eat-Lancet report as sequel looms

A controversial report that links red meat consumption with ill health and early deaths must be retracted and not used as the basis of the upcoming EAT-Lancet 2.0 report, according…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Defra earmarks £12.5m to develop home-grown protein

Defra has allocated a £12.5m funding pot to improve the efficiency of farm-based protein production in the UK, and so reduce dependence on imports. Funding will be drawn from the…

ENVIRONMENT

Environment Agency accused of neglecting River Lugg for years

The Environment Agency (EA) has been accused of “years of neglect and mismanagement” along a protected river at the centre of a maintenance dispute. A frustrated farmer, who did not…

ENVIRONMENT

Farming’s net-zero progress is ‘glacial’ - damning report

Agriculture’s progress to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has been described as “glacial” in a damning independent report that says the government is not on track to meet its net-zero target…

WILDLIFE

RSPB demands tighter pesticide controls to protect wildlife

The RSPB is demanding new targets are set to reduce pesticide use in UK crop production to protect wildlife. In a new report published on Wednesday 29 June, the wildlife…

Video

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FARM POLICY

Video: Farmer demands clarity on autumn muckspreading ban

A Surrey farmer is demanding clarity from the Environment Agency (EA) on behalf of all farmers over its effective ban on most manure applications to arable land in the autumn.…

LIVESTOCK

Video: How to take an integrated approach to rodent control

The best way to deal with rat infestations is not to have them in the first place. Waiting until you see rats running around the farm is too late. Every…

ENVIRONMENT

Tree and hedge planting - a farm's return to sustainability

Robert Moore has made it his goal to leave his 356ha arable unit in a better condition than when he took it on in 1988. He and his sister Janet…

ENVIRONMENT

Video: How sustainable farming is benefiting Scottish family

A Highland Perthshire farmer has brilliantly captured the positive effects sustainable agriculture is having on his family’s farm in Scotland. Patrick Barbour’s innovative three-minute video, filmed at Mains of Fincastle,…